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HPIC recognizes GlaxoSmithKline's commitment to medical aid

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 6 /CNW Telbec/ - GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK) in
Canada has now donated more than $25 million in medicine requested by Canadian
doctors for volunteer missions in developing countries and in response to
emergencies and special appeals.
"The commitment of GSK makes it possible for HPIC to provide medicine to
hundreds of doctors who travel to dozens of countries every year to give basic
medical care," said Glen Shepherd, President of Health Partners International
of Canada (HPIC).
GSK has been providing donations of medicines and vaccines through Health
Partners International of Canada since 1990. One of the first five companies
to partner with HPIC, GSK is a reliable and consistent donor of requested
medicines.
Most of the medicines are used to fill orders for the Physician Travel
Pack (PTP), a portable medical kit filled with the most requested medications
and supplies for primary health care in the developing world.
Dr. Reinhard Friesen, a Peterborough doctor who carried the 5,000th PTP
of HPIC's history earlier this year, says it is "like Christmas" when he
arrives in Honduras and opens the Travel Pack. "It is well packed and contains
so many essential medicines that we need to treat the patients," he says.
On a previous mission to Indonesia, Dr. Friesen treated a little girl
with severe burns with medicine from the PTP. "She left the local hospital
with only one small facial scar thanks to the travel packs," he reported to
HPIC.
In 2008, GSK was a major donor of several essential medicines for the
PTP, which led to thousands of patients being healed, like the little
Indonesian girl.
In addition, GSK's donations have been used to respond to requests from
specialists for overseas work, respond to emergencies, and equip health
projects in communities at risk. In total, GSK medicines were used to treat
35,000 people in 60 countries in 2008.
"GSK has a long history of helping people in the developing world, and we
are proud to be able to help the disadvantaged through HPIC," says President
Paul Lucas. "At GSK, we strive to improve the quality of life for people
around the world by enabling them to do more, feel better and live longer.
HPIC is helping us accomplish this mission."
About Health Partners International of Canada
Health Partners International of Canada is a medical aid organization
dedicated to improving access to health care and medicine in the developing
world. For more information, visit www.hpicanada.ca.